Climb Every Mountain

This weekend I drove up to New Hampshire for an awesome hike and campout with friends old and new (our great group consisted of 8 Russians and 1 Guatemalan!). Amazingly, I managed to do this while wearing with my sister's contact lenses by accident (that's what happens when one gets up at 5:45 a.m.). I only noticed my less-than-stellar eyesight on interstate highway 93 when I realized that I wasn't exactly seeing some of the smaller-type signs without serious squinting... and after a 1.5-hour "detour" through Boston, when I didn't make about 3 necessary turns 'cause I couldn't exactly see the sign on time. Not a great way to go by any means (our contact cases must forever be geographically separated from now on!). Still, I made it there in a measly four hours (and back in the normal 3), without any occurrences.

As for the hike, it was awesome (despite my legs killing me now). We spent a total of six hours scaling up and down the mountain and a swim in the icy river with waterfall (so unsafe and yet so cool!), complete with fascinating discussions on a variety of, haha, interesting topics. Afterward, we camped out overnight in tents to the smooth sounds of fire and guitar and woke up to the not-so-smooth sounds of my accordion.

The company was excellent -- everyone completely chill with everyone else -- and it was overall a healthy, rockin' outdoorsy time. Unfortunately, I also managed to spill water on my camera during the hike, so photos aren't as impressive as could be (no fear, the camera should be okay). I also didn't take pictures from the dip in the rocky river, as I was afraid that the camera would get -- well, smashed. (It's taken considerable abuse already in Spain.) Hopefully people will send me their pictures! Ah, the warm, friendly days of summer...


Our camp site with one of the tents


Las chicas in the woods


It's cold at the summit! Here I am hiding in the rocks in Vera's windbreaker


Taking a break during the hike... and shocking the rest of the hikers with our, ehm, fascinating conversations


Summit of Mount Choco-something in New Hampshire (I can't remember the name!)


Mashka and me on the mountain


Me and White Mountains!